Baba TV has suspended three of its hosts over a video clip that is said to have infuriated the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among.
The clip in question was cut out of a Tuesday morning broadcast during which the three co-hosts of the morning program ‘Gangamuka’ – Simon Muyanga Lutaaya, Kungu Al-mahadi Ali Adam and Lukia Suubo Mpoza discussed the censure by Parliament of state minister for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Persis Namuganza.
On Monday, Parliament censured the minister following a recommendation by an ad hoc committee that the minister deserved reprimand for her role in the Naguru-Nakawa land allocation and her contempt of Parliament.
Namuganza is faulted for among other things declining (without giving any genuine reason) to appear before the committee and defend herself against the allegations in the motion, as well as making statements in the media that undermine Parliament.
While discussing the issue on Baba TV, the three ‘Gangamuka’ hosts sarcastically ‘lauded’ Parliament for addressing ‘the single most pressing issue affecting Uganda’ – Namuganza.
“Parliament, thank you very much for a job well done. I congratulate you for censuring Hon. Namuganza who was the biggest and the most critical problem of the nation. This country has no big problem than it had in Namuganza,” Lutaaya said.
“Now that you solved the biggest problem, I’m now sure that starting today, all hospitals will be well equipped with medicines, because Namuganza is away. Nobody is going to starve anymore, no road will be in a bad state, and no child will lack school fees. Everything is now sorted. The country had one problem called Persis Namuganza,” he added while clapping his hands.
He said MPs have time to attend and vote on censure motions yet no time to attention to the COSASE and NSSF reports.
The three hosts joined in a chorus of applause.
On Thursday, the management of Baba TV issued a statement apologizing to the leadership of Parliament, MPs and the broadcasting regulator, UCC.
The broadcaster said it had received complaints from some sections of Parliament and UCC in regard to the clip and that that the complainants “perceived the clip as demeaning, mocking and ridiculing the institution of Parliament, its leadership and the honorable members”
“As a station committed and accountable to its viewers, management has since reviewed the show and taken internal measures to avoid a repeat of the same in future, including suspending the crew,” the statement adds.
Plugged has established that the producer of the show, Musitafa Kalyowa, was also suspended.
A source at Baba TV who preferred anonymity for fear of reprehension told Plugged that the storm was raised by the leadership at Parliament and some MPs.
Ordinarily, UCC which is the gatekeeper of all broadcasters would be the first to issue a caution. But in this case, Baba TV yielded to the pressure from Parliament even before UCC issued a statement.
It is likely Baba TV weighed its options, perhaps at a strategic level, and chose to prevent a situation where it would have a discordant relationship with the leadership at Parliament.
The optics of the Busoga kingdom broadcaster siding with the Minister who too is from Busoga, too could have offered Parliament leadership more artillery.
UCC is yet to issue a statement regarding the matter.
